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TV Box?
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Posted by: p3ngu!n
I was looking at these cases:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16856101033R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811154062
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811154061
But beyond that I might be in over my head.
I'm looking for a nice low voltage processor and motherboard to add a hard drive and dvd-rw drive and a tv-tuner and make a media center box for my parents.
How exactly should I approach this? I know nothing of TV tuners and I don't know how much wattage I would need to keep all these devices going. Nor do I know how I would plug these into my TV. Ahhhh...
Help?
Posted by: DemonBob
Another One to look at: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16856167020
Ok, so your looking to make a media center box.
1st: You need a Video card with S-Video/Composite/HDMI out in order to connect it to your TV.
2nd: I'm running an Nvidia, 7300 LX, Hauppage WinTV-150, 2 500 GB Sata HD, and all the normal other preferials's off of a 450W power supply no problem.
TV-Tuner Card: I recommend Hauppauge TV card's beside's working great, 80% of the cards are supported in both Windows or Linux
Software considerations:
WIndows XP MCE: Never used it.
Vista MCE: Never used it
Mediaportal: OpenSource MCE for Windows. Works rather well, generally easy to set up, forums have a good bit of information.
LinuxMCE: Works ok....for more linux savy people. Also requires more system resources.
MythTV: Linux MythTV is OpenSource TV PVR applications. Works good.
Remotes:
Windows XXX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...yration&x=0&y=0 I love this remote it works great, it will work on linux too....but it's sometimes difficult to get set up. If you do decided to go the linux route use it's sister remote, made especially for linux.
Linux: http://fiire.com/fiire-chief.php This is pretty much the Gyration remote, with firmware taylored for and specially designed for Linux.
My Current Setup for my PVR:
Hauppage PVR-150
Nvidia Geforce 7300 LX
2GB DDR2
Gigabyte Motherboard
Intel Core Duo
2x 500GB HDD
OS: Mythbuntu Linux
Remote: Gyration MCE Remote
Case: Generic
Posted by: goranpaa
Hi!
I think those flat, almost DVD player like cases looks nice. BUT! You wont be able to fit any other cards than low profile ones. And the most powerful, such card is a GF 6200 yay!
The airflow are probably pretty lousy too.
If I where to build such a cheapo multimedia pc. I would go for this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811144144
Not the best one maybe, but good enough for a cheap system.
Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16813128056
CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16819103751
RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820231098
Video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814121096
This video card has HDTV out.
TV tuner card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16815116609
HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16822144701
DVD combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16827151153
SATA dvd / cd combo. No wide "air brakes" for IDE cables.
Posted by: DemonBob
 Quote:
No Expansion slot for TV Tuner.
Quote:
The only problem will be finding a MicroATX motherboard that you like, has PCI-E and other Expansion’s.
Quote:
Same as a above.
I recommend this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16856167020
It already has S-Video out on an NVidia Chipset, RCA out for Home Entertainment hookup.
So you are looking to building your own person MCE/PVR. Here are some considerations I’d like to know before I can recommend anything further.
What TYPE of TV and Home Entertainment system is this MCE going to be hooked up too?
What type of TV service does your home have? Cable/Digital Cable/Satellite/Over-The-Air/Antenna?
Are you looking for just recording LIVE-TV Function’s or other media functions such as playing/ripping DVD’s/Music?
IS the primary role of this machine going to be an MCE, or was it planned to still act as a computer to be able to i.e. surf the web and other generic web stuff.
Is this going to be the only MCE in the house? (Future expandability concerns)
Network: Wired or Wireless?
Posted by: DemonBob
Quote:
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Originally Posted by goranpaa
Hi!
I think those flat, almost DVD player like cases looks nice. BUT! You wont be able to fit any other cards than low profile ones. And the most powerful, such card is a GF 6200 yay!
The airflow are probably pretty lousy too.
If I where to build such a cheapo multimedia pc. I would go for this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811144144
Not the best one maybe, but good enough for a cheap system.
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I disagree with this case on the principle that most Home Entertainment System furniture only has room for set-top type box case's i.e VCR, Digital TV Receiever. Which leaves having to set the PC on the floor, or on top of the TV if it is not a flat panel.
Posted by: p3ngu!n
Jesus all that stuff looks expensive. I'm only looking for a nice DVD player/ripper, live-TV pauser maybe capable of HDTV and bluray later? (I imagine by just adding a Bluray drive to an already HD output capable system?
I was hoping this could be cheaper than 250 or 300. If thats not possible I'd just get a DVD drive, which can be found for under $100 sometimes!
And yes, I need a flat box, like the one DemonBob suggested. This is going to replace a VCR system we already own.
Posted by: p3ngu!n
Did I stump you? 
Posted by: goranpaa
If you mean me? Nope my friend! Just have been busy. And I belived that you had made up your mind about this allready.
Come to think about it. This is the best alternative among the ones you listed. But you will have to get a TV tuner card for it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16856101033R
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